Film Festival

Mark your calendars for the annual Slow Food Film Festival!

The event venue remains the same in Foundation Hall at the Old State Capitol State Historic Site (Level 2).

Starting at 6:00 PM enjoy dinner & dessert options from Copper Pot Cooking Studio and coffee from Custom Cup.  Popcorn will be available from Slow Food Springfield.

This year’s festival will feature a screening of the film A Break from the Herd at 7:00 p.m. The film follows a scientist in South Dakota, a farmer in Kansas, and a winemaker in Oregon. Their stories explore standing up for the integrity of scientific research, persisting against all odds to grow healthy soil, and persevering to conserve natural resources. Through first-hand accounts they share the risks taken, the trials endured and the paths forged in order to inspire better ways of improving our food and wine production systems.

Following the screening, Slow Food Springfield has invited three individuals to participate in a Q&A. What better way to tie in the lessons learned from the film than to talk to the experts that are working on conservation efforts right here in Illinois?  We will hear from Susan Danenberger, Owner and winemaker at Danenberger Vineyards; Richard Lyons, Soil Health Champion Farmer, cover crop specialist; and Arvin Pierce, Owner of Acbees Apiaries and bee expert.

The event will begin at 5:30 p.m. with a presentation by Alana Reynolds, Slow Food Springfield board member and Slow Food USA Delegate at Terra Madre, Turin Italy.  “I am very excited to share my Terra Madre experience with others! It is a monumental event and I am amazed and inspired by the global participation within the Slow Food organization”, says Reynolds.  Alana will explain the process of becoming a delegate, show photos taken during her trip, and some highlights from conference sessions she attended.

Prior to the screening, recipients of the 2018 Slow Food Springfield Snail of Approval Award will be recognized. The Snail of Approval is an initiative of Slow Food Springfield that recognizes those that who are making significant contributions to the quality, authenticity, and sustainability of the food supply of Central Illinois. Awards are provided in these categories: educational entity, farmer. purveyer/retailer/wholesaler, restaurant, and value-added producer.

Admission is $7.00 per person ($5.00 for Slow Food Springfield members). Students with a student ID are free.

The Old State Capitol State Historic Site may be accessed from the parking garage below the Old State Capitol. Entrance to the garage is on 6th Street (heading north). Parking is $1.50/hour. The garage will be open until 9:00 pm. The garage can also be accessed from the Adams Street Plaza through the small brick building with the green metal roof. Using the elevator or stairs, go down one level (UL Parking).

For more information email us at [email protected]